Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-04-12
VIEWS OF SENATOR STANFORD
Upon Several Topics in Which the Peo-
pie are Interested.


In an interview had with Senator Stan
ford, says the Chronicle yesterday, his
opinion was obtained on several of the
leading topics of the day. The Senator
said he knew nothing concerning the men,
bers OF the Pacific Railroad Commission,
appointed on Saturday by President Cleve-
land, except what was stated in the dis
patches from Washington. In the con-
versation which ensued he expressed his
views upon the selection of the site for the
new Normal School, the reported return of
Conkling to political life, the need of i'm
provements in the city, and the new
charter.
8 think the Commissioners made mis-
take said the Senator, g in selecting Chico
for the site of the Normal School. Chico
is, of course, very pretty little town, but
there is miasma along the river. Red
Bluff, on the other hand, is situated on
higher ground, and l think is healthier
place
What do you think of Conkling's re-
turn to political life?i
"0h, | don't think he will return to pol
itics. don't see why he should, because,
except one, don't know of any position
which he would accept"
You except the Presidency ?"
Well, no one TO whom that place has
been offered has ever refused it. | had q
long talk with Conkling about this very
subject, and he said he intended to settle
down TO work and make some money
You know Grant offered him the place Fish
had, but Conkling Just figured up that
with the salary he would receive and the
money he had, about $4,000 and the ne
cessity of keeping up the dignity of the
position. receiving and giving entertain
ments, not on style of great magnihcence,
| but lust as Fish did-for Fish was q great
entertainer-he would have nothing left at
the end of two years. and would go out Of
| Office without a cent. He submitted the
proposition to Grant, who agreed with him
that it would hardly be profitable to GO
! into Office. No. | don't think he will re-
turn to politics.
"0f course you know what think Of
the need of improving the city. There is
no reason why San Francisco with its nat
ural advantages should not be the most
beautiful city in the world. Why look al
our bay-there is nothing like it any
where; | have never seen anything to
equal it. But nothing is done. Why, we
have not even a decent drive. Many towns
in the State, whose pretensions are not
near as great as those of San Francisco,
have much better drives. There are better
drives out of San Jose and better ones out
of Sacramento. We have only one drive
10 the Park, and that poor one, because
you always have to cross cobble-stones to
get to it. About fifteen years ago there
were some good drives, but now there are
none. My idea about park is take in all
the Mission hills, end make one grand
park out of them, in connection with the
present park. There are many little hooks
up in those bills which the wind never
reaches, and many pretty places could be
made there | made the suggestion some
years ago, when the land was cheaper, but
it was never followed out.
g Tie San Bruno hills could also be taken
in. They can be bought even now, l
think, pretty cheaply.
'0ur streets are 10 fearful condition.
Why, they are as bad, ] think, as those of
Constan;inople l have no doubt that the
clothes ruined in one year by the clouds of
dust which are blown all over cost enough
to pay for paving the whole city. The
city should certainly be improved. A gen.
tleman who had been Governor in India
for number of years. cannot think of
his name now-told me that he had never
seen place to equal it. Take CONSTANT
nople, for instance. OF course it is very
beautiful, but at the best the Bosporus is
but a narrow stream compared to our bay
Of course we have not the minarets and
towers of the East, but then we have an
original style of architecture, which also
makes the city pretty. There is no monot-
ony, as is the case very often in other
cities Fifth avenue and Broadway in
New York are just blank walls, with a few
openings for air. After few days they
become very monotonous. They are
actually oppressive to me. can't stand